New Delhi, Nov 8— Delhi’s air quality plunged further into the danger zone on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) breaching the 400 mark across several areas, placing the national capital in the ‘red zone’ and making it the second-most polluted city in the country, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 p.m., stood at 361 — up from Friday’s 322 — reflecting a steady rise in toxic air levels. Several localities, including Wazirpur (420), Burari (418), Vivek Vihar (411), Nehru Nagar (406), Alipur (404), and ITO (402), reported ‘severe’ air pollution levels on the CPCB’s Sameer app.
“The overall air quality has deteriorated rapidly over the past 48 hours,” a CPCB official noted. “We are witnessing sustained PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations that far exceed safe limits.”
Neighbouring NCR cities also struggled under heavy smog. Noida recorded an AQI of 354, Greater Noida 336, and Ghaziabad 339, all in the ‘very poor’ category.
According to the Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality forecasting, stubble burning accounted for roughly 30 per cent of Delhi’s pollution load, while vehicular emissions contributed about 15.2 per cent. Satellite data showed 100 stubble-burning incidents in Punjab, 18 in Haryana, and 164 in Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
Officials warned that the situation is unlikely to improve soon. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi predicted that pollution will persist in the ‘very poor’ category for the next several days.
“Since Diwali, the city has barely seen a ‘moderate’ air day,” said an official from the India Meteorological Department. “The stagnant wind conditions and local emissions continue to trap pollutants over Delhi.”
As per CPCB classification, an AQI between 401 and 500 is considered ‘severe’, while 301 to 400 falls under ‘very poor’. With levels now hovering above the 400 mark, experts cautioned residents, especially children and the elderly, to limit outdoor activity.
